Overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen in Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust's (CNTW) North Cumbria Locality. The role is a Peer supporter for the Memory and Later Life Services based at Lilyhall Business Centre in Workington. The role is aimed at people with personal lived experience of supporting and having responsibility for a friend or relative with dementia, providing vital support throughout their journey of supporting someone within our services, from assessment through to accessing care and treatment and beyond. It is a unique opportunity to work as part of a Clinical Team, utilising personal experience to provide support, validation and hope for people following diagnosis, enabling carers and families to create a real difference.
Key Responsibilities
* Support families and carers while their loved ones are within the service and throughout transitional periods.
* Advocate for carers in meetings, raising awareness and influencing service culture.
* Share lived experience thoughtfully to build mutual connection with carers.
* Co‑facilitate and develop therapeutic groups for carers and families, creating a safe space for sharing experiences.
* Work one‑to‑one with carers and families to provide individualized support and advice.
* Assist with training sessions on the needs and experiences of carers.
* Communicate through face‑to‑face, telephone, email and group settings.
* Work collaboratively as part of a team as well as independently.
* Maintain professional boundaries and use trust IT systems for recording contacts.
* Use online diaries and Microsoft Teams for communication with colleagues.
* Travel across Cumbria to support a wide area of service users.
Education & Qualification
Essential:
* Good level of secondary education
* Commitment to complete the CNTW Peer Supporter Educational Programme, understanding of personal values and beliefs
* Good interpersonal and team‑working skills
* Ability to share personal story of recovery in a professional manner
* Confidence in own skills and ability to draw upon own resilience and strengths to sustain wellbeing
* Ability to assist people to develop recovery and wellness plans
* Ability to facilitate groups and deliver aspects of a planned training event
* Willingness to reflect on work practice and be open to constructive feedback
* Ability to work in an enabling and creative way
* Ability to draw on own resilience while working with challenging situations
* Ability to plan and prioritise workload
* Ability to undertake breakaway skills
Desirable:
* Experience of WRAP or other recovery / person‑centred planning tools
* Knowledge of how the mental health and other health and social care systems operate
* Understanding of issues affecting mental health and well‑being
Role & Team Specific Requirements
Essential:
* Commitment to putting recovery values and principles into practice
* Belief that people can and do recover and that people can live a meaningful life in the present or absence of difficulties
* Ability to seek support when needed
Desirable:
* Ability to effectively challenge practice and language use
* Ability to work as a bridge between service users / carers and clinical team
Personal Characteristics
Essential:
* Enthusiasm towards and understanding of the specialist nature of the Peer Support role
* Motivation towards the promotion and development of the role
* Reliable and professional
* Non‑judgemental, tolerant, compassionate and respectful
Benefits
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return, we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re‑Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.
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